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Jordan

January 16, 2025

Amman 8:30 am

10°C

A picture taken on July 15, 2021, shows an abandoned Israeli army post in the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank near the border with Jordan (background). - As scientific warnings of dire climate change-induced drought grow, many in Israel and Jordan cast worried eyes at the river running between them and the critical but limited resources they share. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Israel sees surge in Iran weapons smuggling to West Bank via Jordan

With its proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria all but paralyzed, Iran is encouraging a Palestinian uprising against Israel in the West Bank.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader Ahmed al-Sharaa arrives for a meeting with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party, in Damascus, on Dec. 22, 2024.

From UK to Jordan: Delegations pour into Damascus, meet Syria's al-Sharaa

Officials from the Arab world, Turkey, the US and Europe have sent delegations to Syria since the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.

Salah Malkawi/Getty Images

Syria's crossing with Jordan reopens as Israeli military takes position in south

Jordanian and Syrian trucks are once again using the only border crossing between the two countries as Israeli troops take position in a buffer zone and European diplomats engage with the new authorities in Syria.

The International Criminal Court

Germany reluctant to arrest Netanyahu after ICC warrant as France, Canada commit to uphold

The International Criminal Court on Thursday announced arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza.

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Analysis

Despite Israel's war in Gaza, Jordan stability holds & security forces' grip firm

People wave Palestinian and Jordanian flags and chant slogans as they march during a demonstration near the US embassy in the capital Amman in solidarity with the people of Gaza on December 15, 2023, amid the continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by Khalil MAZRAAWI / AFP) (Photo by KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP via Getty Images)

Aaron Magid

Additional US F-15 fighter jets arrive in Jordan as Israel anticipates Iran attack

Singaporean Air Force's F-15SG fighter jet and Apache helicopter perform during a preview of the Singapore Airshow in Singapore on Feb. 18, 2024.

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Gulf governments silent as Iran, proxies mourn Hamas' Yahya Sinwar

JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images

Iran’s FM Araghchi mobilizes against Israel in visits to Jordan, Egypt, Turkey

MURTAJA LATEEF/AFP via Getty Images

Abeer Ayyoub

In Istanbul, reporting on Palestine

Hanna Davis

In Beirut, reporting on politics, migration, human rights

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

An elderly Jordanian woman votes in parliamentary elections at a polling station at the al-Baqaa Palestinian refugee camp near the capital Amman on September 10, 2024.

Jordan's Islamist party gains in parliamentary elections

Initial results showed the Islamic Action Front, Jordan's largest opposition party, having won 18 seats on the national party list and 14 seats on local lists and tribal regions.

A car drives past a road signal indicating the Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge crossing point to Jordan (background), Jericho, West Bank, Jan. 28, 2021.

Analysis

First in 30 years: How Allenby Bridge attack could upend Jordan-Israel ties

Despite the strained relationship between Jordan's King Abdullah and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, neither of the governments wishes to see the breakout of violence on the border or the Temple Mount.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

An Israeli army bulldozer digs up a road in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem with a Palestinian flag fluttering in the foreground on the second day of a large-scale military operation in the north of the occupied West Bank on August 29, 2024. The death toll climbed on August 29 as the Israeli army said it killed five militants in Tulkarem, bringing to 14 the overall number of people killed since the launch of the West Bank operation the previous day. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR A

Jordan sounds alarm over Israeli incursion into West Bank

Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank have heightened concerns among Jordanian officials of increasing instability on their border.

A man checks apples at a market in Ashkelon on Jan. 8, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the nearby Gaza Strip.

Israel's vegetable prices soar as Turkey, Jordan ties strain: What we know

On May 2, the Turkish Trade Ministry suspended all trade with Israel “until humanitarian aid is allowed into the Gaza Strip without restrictions.”

Imane Khelif

Middle East athletes rack up 44 medals at Paris Olympics

Ten Middle Eastern countries won medals at this year's Paris games.

US President Joe Biden meets with members of the National Security team regarding the unfolding missile attacks on Israel from Iran, on April 13, 2024.

Biden and Jordanian king speak as US scrambles to avert regional war

The call between the two leaders came as the Middle East braces for Iran's expected retaliation against Israel following last week's back-to-back assassinations.

US Central Command Cmdr. Gen. Michael Kurilla speaks at the 18th IISS Manama Dialogue, Manama, Bahrain, Nov. 19, 2022.

CENTCOM chief heads for Israel as country prepares for Iran attack

US Central Command Commander Michael Kurilla has arrived in the Middle East in efforts to coordinate with Israel and other countries against an expected attack by Iran.

The aircraft of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken disembarks his aircraft as he arrives at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, on June 10, 2024.

Blinken returns to Middle East in high-stakes push for Gaza cease-fire

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region to push for a cease-fire as the UN Security Council was set to vote on a US-drafted resolution supporting the deal.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) addresses the media prior to a meeting of NATO foreign ministers at the Czernin Palace, in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 31, 2024.

Blinken to return to Middle East in diplomatic blitz to end Gaza war

Washington's top diplomat heads to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar next week as the Biden administration pressures Hamas and Israel to agree to a last-ditch cease-fire proposal to end the war and defuse a volatile border escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

KHALIL MAZRAAWI/afp/AFP via Getty Images

Jordan seizes 9.5 million Captagon pills at Saudi border

Much of Jordan’s efforts to counter drug smuggling focus on the Syrian border, but Saudi Arabia remains a major destination for Captagon.

Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations Mahmoud D. Hmoud, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations Riyad H. Mansour, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations Osama Abdel Khalek speak to members of the media following the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situati

Jordan to host emergency meeting on humanitarian response in Gaza

The conference, which will be co-hosted with Jordan, Egypt and the UN, comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening following the closure of the Rafah border crossing.

AHMAD SHOURA/AFP via Getty Images

Jordan thwarts Iran-linked weapons plot as Hamas denies involvement

Iran and its proxies have threatened Jordan since the start of the Gaza war, including in relation to the kingdom helping shoot down missiles the Islamic Republic fired at Israel.